Paint roller frame



p 3, 1963 G. M. WIEGAND 3,102,327

PAINT ROLLER. FRAME Filed May 24, 1961 26 4 INVENTOR.

GENE M WIE6/4A/D Ej' BY W %WM4,A47M1%147.

ATTOEMEYS United States Patent R 3,102,327 PAINT ROLLER FRAME Gene M.Wiegand, Conneaut, Ohio, assignor to The Wooster Brush-Company, Wooster,Ohio, :1. corporationof Ohio j Filed May 24, 1961, Ser. No. 112,419

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-116) Ihis invention relates to devices for applyingpaint or other liquid coating material to a surface forrthe purposesPatented Sept. 3, 1963 portion 14 which is axially parallel" with theconnector portion"13 and-is directed away from the spindle 11.

' The handle portion .14 is provided with an enlarged of protection,decoration, and the like; and more particu-.

larlyit relates to a rotary type paint applicator commonly referred'toas' a paint roller.

Paint rollers conventionallycomprise a rotatable fra-me upon which isremovably and telescopically mounted a cylindrical member comprising'arigid, tubular core having an outer peripheral covering of absorbentmaterial.

The covering is first saturatedwith the liquid coating material to beappliedp'and subsequently by rolling said cylindrical memberaci oas asurface to ;be painted, said material is transferred in a thin, evenlayerupon the surface: j

:The presentinvention is directed to an improved paint roller frameadapted to receive and frictionally hold a cylindrical paint applyingmember as above described and has for ageneral object the provisions ofa bird cage. type frame of improved construction.

iA-ruore specific object of this invention is to provide a frame ofthegabove type whi'ch isdiametrically, 'resi1-.

iently compressiblewhereby itexerts a radially outwardly directedreactive force against a tubular applying member telescdped thereover.

Stillanother object ofthis invention is to provide such a frarn havinglongitud'iuallydisplaceable end bearing members which 'automatically-adjuspthemselves in r'esponseto a compressive force exerteddiametrically inwardlyfupon the central portionof said frame.

a A further objectis toprovida a frame having the 'abov'echaracteristics whichis provided with a plurality of removable,resilient longitudinal connecting members which graspedduringthepainting operation.

grippingportion' 15 whereby the paint roller is manually to each otherby means of a plurality of bowed rods 21, u u and preferably formed ormolded'nylon. As best shown.

in FIGS. 1 and 3, each rod 21.is bowed radially outwardly with respectto thespindle 11 throughout the generally medial portion (at said rod.As best seen in FIG. 3, the

ends ofeach rod 21 are provided with right angularly bent, radiallyinwardly directed hooks 22;. It will be understood that the book 22 asillustratedin FIG. 3 is identical with a similar hook disposed at [theopposite end of each rod 21. There are preferably four of said rodswhich are circumferentially evenly spaced around and 4, ea ch bearing 20is prbfvided with a plurality of.

preferablyfour sockets 27 adjacent the periphery of saidgreatlyfacilitatethe manufacturel and assembly ofthe] frame. M i

Yet-another object of this invention is to provide such a paint rollerframe which has improved connection means for mounting the resilientconnecting members to theendj bearing members. i

Other-objects; of this {invention and the invention itself will-bereadily understood-from the following descrip tion and the accompanyingdrawings, drawings:

FIG; 1" is a plan view associated parts;

in which said of the paint roller frame and FIG. 2; is a transversesection taken along the line 2 2of FIG.l; u

FIGQBisa section taken along the line 3 -'=3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an inner end bearing members alone;

Referring'now lto f the drawings in. all of which like partsarewdesignated by; likereference numerals, at 10 there is generallyshown aroller frame rotatably mounted upon aspindl'e l lz Thespindle "11is integrally connected elevation of one of the end 30,]31 reinforce hub26.

with aj parallel, axially laterally spaced support member.

12 by means'of a straight, perpendicular connected por- I tion 13; Asbest seen in FIG. 11, the spindlefll. the support 12, and the connectorportion 13 form a generally U- shaped element manufactured'froma sihgle.length of preferably hietalrod material wherein the spindle 11 isapproximatelytwice the length of the suppor-t portion 12.

The end ofthe support portion 12. opposite the connector portion 13' isprovided with a rightlangularly bent handle the roller-frame 10 with thebowed medial portion of each rod. projecting radially outwardly from theaxis of said roller frame.

- Referring now.to FIGS. 24, the bearings 20 are generally cup-shapedhaving {flat bottom walls 23 and circumferential perpendicular flanges24 at the periphery thereof. 3 Each bearing 20 has a substantially deeprecess 25} inthe bottom 'wall23 and an axially extending bearingfbollar26 which is.coaxially positioned and projects in the same direction asthe flange 24 i As well shown in FIGS} bearing, Each socket 2.7 is inthe form of a generally semi-circular depression in the flange 24,saiddepression extending throughout the length of the flange andtcrminatingat the bottom wall .23. \Adjacent said wall, each socket 27isprovided with an intersecting, radially disposed socket 28 whichextends inwardly as. far as a peripheral wall 25a of therecess 25. I

Referring particularly toFIG. 4, it will also be noticed that eachsocket 27 is provided with a pair of oppositelyfacihg,longitudinalprotuberan-ces 29 which tend to restrict and narrowthelateral opening of said socket adjacent the outer periphery ofthebearing 20. It'will also be noted that eachbeariug 20lis provided withradially disposed reinforciug webs 30 which extend from the bearingcollar 26Joutwardly to the walls of the socket 27. Additionalreinforcing webs 31 are provided at circumferentially I evenly spacedintervals between thewebs 30, so that webs Webs 31 are disposed betweenand connect the bearing collar 2'6 with the. flange 24.

The pair of'bearingslltl are positioned telescopically upon the spindle11 with the flanges Maud the. bearing collars 2'6 directed toward eachother. forced or snapped into connection with the bearings 20 adjacentthe ends of said rod. Each end ofeachrod is inserted with-the hook 22being directedinto a radial socket 28 whereby said rod is forcedlaterally and radially into an associated socket 27 by a snap action. Itwill be understood that the protuberances 29 present some resistance tothe entrance of the rod 211 into the socket 27 and that once said rodisseated within said .socket, protuber-. ances 29 prevent its'radiallyoutward displacement and hook-s 22.i n..sockets 28 prevent turning ofrod 21.

The roller frame :lllis retained upon the :spindle 11 by The rods 21are- 3 means of a hat shape cap 40 mounted upon the distal end of saidspindle adjacent the outwardly disposed bearing 20. Said retaining capis adapted to be telescoped over the distal end of the spindle ill andis provided with a circumferentially continuous, radially outwardlyprojecting flange 4-1 which is positioned within the recess 25 of theouter bearing and is slightly smaller in diameter than said recess. Theretaining cap 40 is provided with preferably two inwardly struck prongs42 which are directed generally toward the distal end of said spindle.It will be readily seen that when the retaining cap 40 is seated uponthe spindle 11, the prongs 42 tend to penetrate slightly the outerperipheral surface of said spindle thereby preventing removal of saidretaining cap.

When the roller frame 10 is fully assembled and rotatably mounted uponthe spindle 11 with the retaining cap 4% in place, it will be noted thatslight endwise movement of said roller frame is possible due to a slightaxial displacement between the circumferential flange 411 of saidretaining cap and the bottom of the recess of the outer bearing 20. Thisamount of space, indicated at S in FIG. 3, allows for longitudinalexpansion of the roller frame It When a paint applying member ofconventional design is telescoped over the roller frame 10 (not hereinillustrated), all of the bowed rods 21 are compressed slightly radiallyinwardly and hooks 22 move or rock in sockets 2 8 to thereby cause saidroller frame to elongate with the resulting axial displacement of thebearings 20 in a direction away from each other. The space S issufficient to allow this longitudinal expansion without causing theroller frame 10 to bind at either end, to highly stress bearings 26, orto in any way interfere with the free rotation thereof.

To use the paint roller device of this invention, a conventional paintapplicator member having a rigid, tubular inner core and an outerabsorbent peripheral covering is forcibly telescoped over the rollerframe from the end thereof opposite the connector portion 13. The rods21 are thereby squeezed inwardly and present to the inner peripheralsurface of the rigid core suflicient outwardly expansive force tomaintain the applicator member in position during use. The device isthen grasped by the gripping portion -15, and covering of the applicatormemher is saturated with paint or similar material, after which it isrolled across the surface to be painted by means of the rotatable frame10. Since there is only line contact between the rods 21 and theapplicator member, no difficulty is encountered in removing theapplicator member after use regardless of whether or not it has becomeclogged with paint on the inside. The construction of rods 21 hold theouter cover concentric with rods 21 and periphery of ends caps 26 andprevent circular movement between this cover and frame.

The device as herein illustrated and described is extremely rigid anddurable in construction and the snap-in type rods and sockets greatlyfacilitates the assembly of the frame 10. The hooks 22 seated within theradial sockets 28 positively maintain the rods 21 against rotationwhereby the bowing of each rod is always maintained in a radiallyoutwardly projecting position to exert equal outward holding pressure onthe cover. The reinforcing webs 30-31 give the bearing 20 great strengthand rigidity whereas the cuplike design of said bearing cause them to belight in weight.

It will be understood that many departures from the details of thisinvention as herein disclosed and illustrated may be made without,however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A supporting frame for a paint-applying tubular structure, saidsupporting frame being rotatably mounted in use thereof and comprising apair of spaced end heads and a plurality of circumferentially disposedresilient rodlike members extending between and carried by said endheads said end heads being of a size to generally snugly fit within saidpaint-applying tubular structure and said rod-like members havingportions thereof which normally extend outwardly for resilient retainingengagement with said tubular structure, at least one of said end headshaving a disc-shaped end wall, a generally cylindrical rim flange, and acentrally disposed hub having a spindlereceiving bore, said rod-likemembers having at one end thereof inwardly extending end portions forassembly with the rim flange and the end wall of said end head, said rimflange having circumferentially disposed and longitudinally extendinggrooves to receive said rod-like members adjacent their inwardlyextending end portions and said end wall having inwardly extendinggrooves in alignment with said rim fian-ge grooves to receive theinwardly extending end portions of said rod-like members, and said rimflange being provided with projections which restrict the width of thegrooves therein and which projections are in spaced relation to thebottoms of said grooves, whereby in seating the rod-like members in saidrim flange grooves, the rodlike members must be pushed past saidprojections, with the result that accidental escape of the rod-likemembers from said rim flange grooves is prevented.

2. A supporting frame for a paint-applying tubular structure, saidsupporting frame being rotatably mounted in use thereof and comprising apair of spaced end heads and a plurality of circumferentially disposedresilient rodlike members extending between and carried by said endheads, said end heads being of a size to generally snugly fit withinsaid paint-applying tubular structure and said rod-like members havingportions thereof which normally extend outwardly for resilient retainingengagement with said tubular structure, at least one of said end headshaving a disc-shaped end wall, a generally cylindrical rim flange, and acentrally disposed hub having a spindle-receiving bore, said rod-likemembers having at one end thereof inwardly extending end portions forassembly with the rim flange and the end wall of said end head, said rimflange having circumferentially disposed and longitudinally extendinggrooves to receive said rod-like members adjacent their inwardlyextending end portions and said end wall having inwardly extendinggrooves in alignment with said rim flange grooves to receive theinwardly extending end portions of said rodlike members, the centralportion of the end wall of said end head being recessed at the outersurface thereof to expose within said recess a portion of the spindleupon which the end head is rotatably mounted, and a hat shape retainingelement telescoped over the end of said spindle for the retention of theend head thereon, at least a portion of said retaining element lyingwithin said end head recess, said retaining element being provided withprong-like projections engageable with said spindle for end headretaining purposes.

3. A supporting frame for a paint applying tubular structure, saidsupporting frame being rotatably mounted in use thereof and comprising apair of spaced end heads and a plurality of circumferentially disposedresilient rod-like members extending between and carried by said endheads, said end heads being of a size to generally snugly fit withinsaid paint applying tubular structure and said rod-like members havingportions thereof which normally extend outwardly for resilient retainingengagement with said tubular structure, at least one of said end headshaving a disk shaped end wall, a generally cylindrical rim flange, and acentrally disposed hub having a spindle receiving bore, said rod-likemembers having at one end thereof inwardly extending end portions forassembly with the rim flange and the end wall of said end head, said rimflange having circumferentially disposed and longitudinally extendinggrooves to receive said rod-like members adjacent their inwardlyextending end portions and said end wall having radially inwardlyextending sockets in alignment with said grooves receiving the inwardlyextending end portions of said rod-like members and retaining saidmembers against endwise movementrelative to said end head, and said rimflange being provided with projections which restrict the width of thegrooves therein and which projections are in spaced relation to thebottom of said grooves, whereby in seating the rod-like members in saidrim flange grooves, the rod-like members must be pushed past saidprojections, with the result that accidental escape of the rodlikemembers from said rim flange grooves is prevented.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSSchubert June 7, Johnson June 7, Adams June 26, Messmer Apr. 10, KregerJune 12,

Johns May 2,

1. A SUPPORTING FRAME FOR A PAINT-APPLYING TUBULAR STRUCTURE, SAIDSUPPORTING FRAME BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN USE THEREOF AND COMPRISING APAIR OF SPACED END HEADS AND A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSEDRESILIENT RODLIKE MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CARRIED BY SAID ENDHEADS, SAID END HEADS BEING OF A SIZE TO GENERALLY SNUGLY FIT WITHINSAID PAINT-APPLYING TUBULAR STRUCTURE AND SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS HAVINGPORTIONS THEREOF WHICH NORMALLY EXTEND OUTWARDLY FOR RESILIENT RETAININGENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TUBULAR STRUCTURE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID END HEADSHAVING A DISC-SHAPED END WALL, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL RIM FLANGE, AND ACENTRALLY DISPOSED HUB HAVING A SPINDLERECEIVING BORE, SAID ROD-LIKEMEMBERS HAVING AT ONE END THEREOF INWARDLY EXTENDING END PORTIONS FORASSEMBLY WITH THE RIM FLANGE AND THE END WALL OF SAID END HEAD, SAID RIMFLANGE HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGGROOVES TO RECEIVE SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS ADJACENT THEIR INWARDLYEXTENDING END PORTIONS AND SAID END WALL HAVING INWARDLY EXTENDINGGROOVES IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID RIM FLANGE GROOVES TO RECEIVE THEINWARDLY EXTENDING END PORTIONS OF SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS, AND SAID RIMFLANGE BEING PROVIDED WITH PROJECTIONS WHICH RESTRICT THE WIDTH OF THEGROOVES THEREIN AND WHICH PROJECTIONS ARE IN SPACED RELATION TO THEBOTTOMS OF SAID GROOVES, WHEREBY IN SEATING THE ROD-LIKE MEMBERS IN SAIDRIM FLANGE GROOVES, THE RODLIKE MEMBERS MUST BE PUSHED PAST SAIDPROJECTIONS, WITH THE RESULT THAT ACCIDENTAL ESCAPE OF THE ROD-LIKEMEMBERS FROM SAID RIM FLANGE GROOVES IS PREVENTED.